Which statement is true about zircon and cubic zirconia in the context of diamond simulants?

Which statement is true about zircon and cubic zirconia in the context of diamond simulants?

• A. They are the same simulant.
• B. Zircon and cubic zirconia are two different simulants.
• C. Zircon is a form of natural diamond.
• D. They are both types of moissanite.

Answer: (B)

Zircon and cubic zirconia are two different diamond simulants. Zircon is a natural mineral with the composition ZrSiO4 and a tetragonal crystal system; it can catch the eye like a diamond but has a lower refractive index and noticeable birefringence, which affects how light returns through the stone. Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, is a synthetic material (ZrO2 stabilized with oxides) produced specifically as a diamond simulant; it has a higher refractive index and dispersion and a cubic crystal structure, which gives it a very different sparkle and performance from zircon and from real diamond. Because one is natural and the other is manufactured, they are not the same simulant. They are not moissanite either, since moissanite is silicon carbide.

Zircon and cubic zirconia are two different diamond simulants. Zircon is a natural mineral with the composition ZrSiO4 and a tetragonal crystal system; it can catch the eye like a diamond but has a lower refractive index and noticeable birefringence, which affects how light returns through the stone. Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, is a synthetic material (ZrO2 stabilized with oxides) produced specifically as a diamond simulant; it has a higher refractive index and dispersion and a cubic crystal structure, which gives it a very different sparkle and performance from zircon and from real diamond. Because one is natural and the other is manufactured, they are not the same simulant. They are not moissanite either, since moissanite is silicon carbide.